U.S. patent number 6,769,429 [Application Number 10/124,041] was granted by the patent office on 2004-08-03 for nasal dilation device.
Invention is credited to Giulio Benetti.
United States Patent |
6,769,429 |
Benetti |
August 3, 2004 |
Nasal dilation device
Abstract
A nasal dilation device includes a single, integral strip of
flexible resilient material having a central portion for
positioning over and in engagement with the top of an individual
nose and opposed end portions including independently flexible
upper and lower finger elements diverging from one another.
Adhesive tape elements overly the end portions for releasably
securing the end portion to opposed sides of the individual's
nose.
Inventors: |
Benetti; Giulio (Dixon,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
32769724 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/124,041 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/200.24;
606/199 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/01 (20060101); A61F 5/08 (20060101); A62B
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/200.24
;606/191,198,199,201,204.45 ;604/104 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dawson; Glenn K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lampe; Thomas R.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A nasal dilation device comprising, in combination: a single,
integral strip of flexible, resilient material having a
substantially uniform thickness and a normally planar state and
being disposed along a linear longitudinal axis, said strip of
flexible, resilient material including a central portion for
positioning over the top of an individual's nose and opposed end
portions affixed to said central portion for positioning at
opposite sides of the individual's nose, each end portion
comprising independently flexible upper and lower finger elements
diverging from one another and from said linear longitudinal axis
having free distal finger element ends, said free distal finger
element ends terminating at a first imaginary line defining an
angle with a second imaginary line orthogonal to said linear
longitudinal axis falling within the range of from about 35 degrees
to about 45 degrees, said upper finger elements of said end
portions being shorter than the lower finger elements thereof; and
adhesive tape elements overlying said end portions for releasably
securing said end portions to the opposite sides of the
individual's nose to maintain said strip of flexible, resilient
material in flexed and bent condition and to continuously apply
opposed pulling forces at the opposite sides of the individual's
nose to maintain the nasal passageways thereof open, the upper and
lower finger elements of each of said end portions defining an
opening, said adhesive tape elements extending across the openings
defined by the upper and lower finger elements and beyond outer
edges of said upper and lower finger elements, said upper and lower
finger elements both diverging upwardly from said linear
longitudinal axis and the free distal finger element ends of both
said upper and lower finger elements along with the portions of
said adhesive tape element covering said free distal finger element
ends being located above said linear longitudinal axis.
2. The nasal dilation device according to claim 1 wherein said
adhesive tape elements define slits communicating with said
openings.
3. The nasal dilation device according to claim 1 wherein said
flexible, resilient material is transparent plastic material.
4. The nasal dilation device according to claim 1 wherein said
substantially uniform thickness is in the range of from about 0.2
mm to about 0.6 mm.
5. A nasal dilation device comprising, in combination: a single,
integral strip of flexible, resilient material having a
substantially uniform thickness and a normally planar state and
being disposed along a linear longitudinal axis, said strip of
flexible, resilient material including a central portion for
positioning over the top of an individual's nose and opposed end
portions affixed to said central portion for positioning at
opposite sides of the individual's nose, each end portion
comprising independently flexible upper and lower finger elements
diverging from one another and from said linear longitudinal axis
having free distal finger element ends, said free distal finger
element ends terminating at a first imaginary line defining an
angle with a second imaginary line orthogonal to said linear
longitudinal axis falling within the range of from about 35 degrees
to about 45 degrees, said upper finger elements of said end
portions being shorter than the lower finger elements thereof; and
adhesive tape elements overlying said end portions for releasably
securing said end portions to the opposite sides of the
individual's nose to maintain said strip of flexible, resilient
material in flexed and bent condition and to continuously apply
opposed pulling forces at the opposite sides of the individual's
nose to maintain the nasal passageways thereof open, said strip of
flexible, resilient material having an upper strip edge and a lower
strip edge, said lower strip edge forming a concavity where said
central portion is positioned over the top of the individual's nose
and being convex on both sides of said concavity, said concavity
for receiving the top of the individual's nose to facilitate and
maintain proper placement of the nasal dilation device on the
individual's nose.
6. A nasal dilation device comprising, in combination: a single,
integral strip of flexible, resilient material having a
substantially uniform thickness and a normally planar state and
being disposed along a linear longitudinal axis, said strip of
flexible, resilient material including a central portion for
positioning over the top of an individual's nose and opposed end
portions affixed to said central portion for positioning at
opposite sides of the individual's nose, each end portion
comprising independently flexible upper and lower finger elements
diverging from one another and from said linear longitudinal axis
having free distal finger element ends, said free distal finger
element ends terminating at a first imaginary line defining an
angle with a second imaginary line orthogonal to said linear
longitudinal axis falling within the range of from about 35 degrees
to about 45 degrees, said upper finger elements of said end
portions being shorter than the lower finger elements thereof; and
adhesive tape elements overlying said end portions for releasably
securing said end portions to the opposite sides of the
individual's nose to maintain said strip of flexible, resilient
material in flexed and bent condition and to continuously apply
opposed pulling forces at the opposite sides of the individual's
nose to maintain the nasal passageways thereof open, said strip of
flexible, resilient material having an outer peripheral edge, said
outer peripheral edge being chamfered.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a device for resisting inward movement of
outer wall tissue of nasal passages of a nose during breathing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Nasal dilators that resist inward movement of the outer wall tissue
of the nasal passages during breathing are known. U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,533,499, issued Jul. 9, 1966, and 5,533,503, issued Jul. 9, 1996,
disclose nasal dilators comprising truss-members. The truss-member
includes a flexible strip of material having a first end region, a
second end region and an intermediate segment. The first and second
end regions are adapted to engage the outer wall tissue of first
and second nasal passages of the nose. The intermediate segment is
configured to traverse a portion of the nose located between the
first and second nasal passages. The truss-member further includes
first and second resilient bands secured to the strip of material
adjacent opposite edges of the intermediate segment. The resiliency
of the first and second bands purportedly acts to stabilize the
outer wall tissue and thereby prevent the outer wall tissue of the
first and second nasal passages from drawing in during
breathing.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention also relates to a nasal dilation device
utilized to resist inward movement of outer wall tissue of the
nasal passages of a nose during breathing.
The nasal dilation device of the present invention is characterized
by its relative simplicity, enabling the dilator to be of
relatively low cost construction, as well as provide a high degree
of comfort to the user when applied to the nose.
The nasal dilation device of the present invention includes a
single, integral strip of flexible, resilient material having a
substantially uniform thickness and a normally planar state and
being disposed along a linear longitudinal axis.
The strip of flexible, resilient material includes a central
portion for positioning over the top of an individual's nose and
opposed end portions affixed to the central portion for positioning
at opposite sides of the individual's nose.
Each end portion comprises independently flexible upper and lower
finger elements diverging from one another and from said linear
longitudinal axis. The upper and lower finger elements have free
distal finger element ends.
The free distal finger element ends terminate at a first imaginary
line defining an angle with a second imaginary line orthogonal to
said longitudinal axis. The angle falls within the range of from
about 35 degrees to about 45 degrees. The upper finger elements of
the end portions are shorter than the lower finger elements.
The nasal dilation device also includes adhesive tape elements
overlying the end portions for releasably securing the end portions
to the opposite sides of the individual's nose to maintain the
strip of flexible, resilient material in flexed and bent condition
and to continuously apply pulling forces at the opposite sides of
the individual's nose to maintain the nasal passageways thereof
opened.
Other features, advantages and objects of the present invention
will become apparent with reference to the following description
and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a
nasal dilation device constructed in accordance with the teachings
of the present invention positioned on an individual's nose;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, frontal, perspective view of the nasal
dilation device in flat condition;
FIG. 3 is a rear, elevational view of the flat nasal dilation
device;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the nasal dilation
device taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, partial sectional view taken along
the line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, a nasal dilation device constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes
a single, integral strip 10 of flexible, resilient material having
a substantially uniform thickness and a normally planar state shown
in FIGS. 2--5. The flexible, resilient material is preferably a
clear plastic material, for example a transparent polymeric
material. The thickness of the strip suitably in the range of from
about 0.2 mm to about 0.6 mm.
The strip is disposed along a linear longitudinal axis A (see FIG.
3).
Strip 10 includes a central portion 12 for positioning over and in
engagement with the top of an individual's nose, as shown in FIG.
1. The strip additionally includes opposed end portions 14, 16
affixed to the central portion for positioning at opposite sides of
the individual's nose.
Each end portion comprises independently flexible finger elements,
an upper finger element 18 and a lower finger element 20. These
upper and lower finger elements diverge from one another and from
the linear longitudinal axis A. The upper and lower finger elements
respectively have free distal finger element ends 22, 24.
These free distal finger element ends at each end portion terminate
at a first imaginary line B defining an angle with a second
imaginary line C orthogonal to the linear longitudinal axis A. FIG.
3 illustrates the first and second imaginary lines B and C. The
angle falls within the range of from about 35 degrees to about 45
degrees. The upper finger elements 18 of the end portions are
shorter than the lower finger elements thereof.
Adhesive tape elements 30, 32 are adhesively secured to and overly
the end portions 14, 16 for releasably securing the end portions to
the opposite sides of the individual's nose, as shown in FIG. 1.
This maintains the strip of flexible, resilient material in flexed
and bent condition and opposed pulling forces are thus exerted by
the nasal dilation device at opposite sides of the nose to maintain
the passageways thereof open. If desired, the adhesive tape
elements can be formed of transparent or semi-transparent material.
Also, if desired, adhesive may be applied to the back surfaces of
finger elements 18 and 20.
The upper and lower finger elements 18, 20 of each of the end
portions 14, 16 define an opening 40. The edges of the upper and
lower finger elements at the openings 40 form a generally V-shaped
configuration. The adhesive tape elements 30, 32 extend across the
openings 40 defined by the upper and lower finger elements and
beyond the outer edges of the upper and lower finger elements. The
adhesive tape elements of course only have an adhesive coating at
the backside or skin engagement side thereof.
The adhesive tape elements define slits 42 communicating with the
openings 40. This allows flexing of the finger elements to be
unimpeded by the adhesive tape elements so that the finger elements
and the adhesive tape elements can more readily conform to the
shape of the wearer's nose. This adds to the comfort of the
wearer.
Further adding to the wearer's comfort and contributing to function
of the device is the angled orientation of the distal finger
element ends 22, 24 as described above. The fact that the upper
finger elements of the end portions are shorter than the lower
finger elements thereof allows the device to be worn comfortably
without the upper finger elements engaging the user's face at
locations other than the nose itself. The lower finger elements and
lower segments of the adhesive tape elements effectively distribute
forces applied to the lower, larger portions of the nose that they
cover.
Another comfort feature is the fact that the free distal finger
element ends of the upper and lower finger elements are rounded and
that the adhesive tape elements have rounded corners also, the
adhesive tape elements being spaced from the free distal finger
element ends.
Yet one more comfort feature employed in the device is the fact
that the outer peripheral edge 46 of the strip is chamfered, as
designated by reference numeral 48 in FIG. 5. This provides for a
higher degree of flexibility of the strip than would otherwise be
the case.
The peripheral edge of the strip includes an upper strip edge 52
and a lower strip edge 54. Lower strip edge 54 forms a concavity 56
where the central portion 12 is positioned on the top of the
individual's nose. The lower strip edge is convex on both sides of
the concavity. The concavity is for receiving the top of the
individual's nose to facilitate and maintain proper placement of
the nasal dilation device on the individual's nose.
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